“We have to protect student athletes to extremes we never thought of before,” Bielema told Sporting News on Tuesday. “I just read a study that said players in the no-huddle, hurry-up offense play the equivalent of five more games than those that don’t. That’s an incredible number. Our awareness as a whole has to increase.”

Bert wants the world to know he’s not really interested in signing high maintenance kids… you know, the ones that are really good.

“I want guys that leave campus and know this is what they want to be a part of. I want guys that maybe come back two or three times and say, ‘This is where I’m going.’ If they have to pick a hat, release the balloons and cut the cake on Signing Day, I probably don’t have time for them. Not to say that’s always the case, but it’s the direction I’ve leaned during my head coaching career.”

Uh huh. Like you’ve had the choice, brah.

One day, he and Paul Johnson ought to team up and host a recruiting show. That would be amusing.

Bielema said Monday his defense, which was carved up by Auburn in the opener last Saturday, needs to take on a boxer’s mentality.

“When you’re a boxer and you see someone bleed, you want to go after that cut eye,” Bielema said. “I always used to tell players, when you see a guy bleeding — and he doesn’t necessarily need to have blood coming out of him — but if he’s holding his knee or he’s holding his wrist, or he’s bent over, or he’s holding his leg or he’s working his ankle out, go after that baby.

“When I was a wrestler and you’ve got a brace on, I’m going after your (expletive), you know? That’s the mentality I think that we have to establish.”

Berry Tramel hints pretty strongly that Big Game Bob cut a deal with Dorial Green-Beckham that the kid would indeed play a season with Oklahoma before going pro. Of course, there’s not really much Stoops could do other than complain if Green-Beckham reneged.

Cringeworthy comment from Bobby Petrino: “With the experiences I’ve had, I can help young men with the obstacles they are going to be presented with off the field, with the situations that are going to come up; to be able to help them and give them a second chance.”